‘It looked like we had it’: How Hornets’ streak of bad NBA Draft Lottery luck continues
Roughly an hour remains before the bright television lights turn on in a huge second-floor conference room directly overhead and the first-floor mingling below is already in full force.
The NBA Draft Lottery, which one former high-level team executive dubbed a convention of losers because it’s where no team really wants to be, hadn’t started yet. So, the majority of the decision makers were relaxed, seemingly calm on the outside during the early stages of lock down.
Rick Schnall, the Charlotte Hornets’ co-owner, appears no different, taking in the final moments before NBA president of league operations Byron Spruell signals the moment everyone has been waiting for was about to transpire.
The Cooper Flagg sweepstakes commenced with the insertion of 14 ping pong balls stacked numerically with the lowest numbers at the bottom. This was it, the point the future of the Hornets churned throughout a mega millions style hopper inside a conference room at McCormick Place West.
“It looked,” Schnall, still sitting in his seat nearly an hour later, told The Observer as the ESPN broadcast played on a flatscreen a short bounce pass away, “like we had it.”
But when the final ball came up, showing a seven, Schnall quickly scanned the 140 four-number combinations assigned to Charlotte by the NBA. Akin to holding a scratch off ticket that didn’t match anything, the Hornets weren’t a winner.
Dallas won in spite of what felt like microscopic 1.8% odds, making an incredible record-tying 10-team leap that felt as if it defied logic.
Matt Riccardi, the Mavericks’ assistant general manager, appeared befuddled for a second given Dallas’ minuscule chance to win the lottery. The Hornets, along with Washington and Utah, held the best odds to secure the top selection at 14% yet they couldn’t grab the coveted position everyone hoped for upon entering the window-less room devoid of the any communication devices — cellphones, smart watches, ear buds — to keep the results secured.
And, well, it quite frankly stung for Charlotte’s brass.
Following one of the worst seasons record-wise since entering the league as an expansion team in 1988, the Hornets couldn’t land the top prize and this one mattered deeply given the franchise-altering potential Flagg possesses. He’s been the talk of the college basketball scene for the better part of the last year because of his tantalizing versatility.
“We are obviously disappointed we didn’t get the No. 1, but it could be a lot worse,” Schnall said. “I thought (for a minute) we were going to be seventh. But we are going to get a good player.”
Still, the Hornets certainly could’ve used someone with Flagg’s pedigree. instead he’s headed to Texas, bound for the land of a different style of barbecue than that around the Carolinas. And there was still no guarantee they weren’t going to drop as low as seventh, forcing Schnall and everyone else to collect themselves.
The next combination is read: 12-13-11-5. Then another: 3-7-5-10.
Neither are the Hornets’ and San Antonio and Philadelphia quitely rejoice.
A fourth drawing pulls up 3-5-2-11.
Finally, Schnall heard the Hornets’ name called. A slight relief engulfed his body.
“I was very disappointed after one, two and three, but I was happy that we got four,” Schnall said. “It feels like a consolation prize. We won the fourth lottery pick.”
Then in a blink with the speed of a LaMelo Ball baseball pass, it was all over.
“Those balls pop up fast,” Schnall said.
In less than 15 minutes, the not-made-for-TV event wraps up and stunned onlookers inquisitively ask others if what had just gone down actually happened. Indeed it did, creating a scenario so unpredictable and unforeseen that ESPN host Kevin Negandhi incorrectly stated the status of the Philadelphia 76ers’ pick, leading to a few chuckles inside the drawing room since everyone knew the actual result.
But things externally on the dais remained serious during the broadcast, and Hornets coach Charles Lee soaked up every second of the wacky proceedings.
“Excited to be able to represent our loyal and faithful fans in Charlotte and across the whole Carolinas,” Lee told The Observer. “It’s just a blessing to be a part of that new generation of Hornets’ culture that’s just come into effect. And I’m looking forward to continuing to build with whoever this piece is that we get in the draft this year.”
Deep down, Schnall and the majority of the other executives weren’t really in a jovial mood, though. They’re emotionally drained, exhausted by the mental gymnastics that have such a profound effect on their franchise’s direction.
Schnall surely is, having witnessed the actual drawing twice in person with neither resulting in anything truly tangible. And that has him pondering a personal timeout.
“I might not allow myself to come back,” Schnall said. “Hopefully, we are not back in here. But if we are, I think it’ll be someone else.”
This story was originally published May 13, 2025 at 11:00 AM.
